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National Notary Association
The National Notary Bulletin

Can I Charge Credible Witnesses A Fee?

By NNA Staff on December 10, 2015

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A signer presented me with two credible witnesses as proof of his identity. Once the notarization is complete, do I ask only the signer to pay a fee, or can I charge a fee from the credible witnesses as well? — R.A., Santa Rosa, California

You may only charge the signer for the notarial act. The maximum you may charge in California is $15 per signature. Credible witnesses serve as a means to identify the signer for the notarial act and are not signers of the document.

Hotline answers are based on the laws in the state where the question originated and may not reflect the laws of other states. If in doubt, always refer to your own state statutes. – The Editors

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14 Comments

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Artur

14 Dec 2015

Sometimes these answers are very vague. R.A., you are notarizing the signature of the signer. You are not notarizing the signatures of the credible witnesses. In essence, you can charge up to $10 every time a signer signs a document and signs your journal at the same time.

Roselind Schwartz

15 Dec 2015

Talking about fees. When will New York raise fees..$2.00 is a joke!!!!!!

John Minjiras

20 Jun 2016

Will the charge per notary in California be raised to $15.00. The bill is now before the State Senate. What is the status of the bill and does the NNA feel it will pass this year.

Toriiey

13 Apr 2017

What is the maximum amount that you can charge for a notary fee in Georgia

National Notary Association

17 Apr 2017

Hello. The maximum is $2.

Natalia Fuentes

26 Jun 2017

My client had a document from the Department of Motor Vehicles. I attached my California Certificate and it was rejected. I call the DMV and they said that for no reason they would accept the California attached certificate.

Gloria Ammeral Johnson

07 Sep 2017

I've been reading and researching information about notary services for loan documents where you notarize real estate closing documents. To provide these notary services they can pay $75.00 to $200.00 for your notary services. If the maximum fee charged to notarize documents in Virginia is $5.00, how can one receive payment of $75-$200 to sign loan documents? I would like to know how this is in compliance? Is notarizing mortgage document under a different category? Also, I would like to confirm if the $5.00 notary fee is per document page that must be notarize or a flat fee regardless of the number of pages. Thank you.

National Notary Association

08 Sep 2017

Hello. Notary Signing Agents are paid not only for notarizing documents, but also for performing services such as printing and delivering loan documents as well. In Virginia, the fee is per notarial act performed. When notarizing paper documents, the maximum fee allowed for taking and certifying an acknowledgment, administering and certifying an oath, certifying a true copy, or certifying an affidavit or deposition is $5 (COV 47.1-19[A]).

Jessica

08 Sep 2020

I believe the question is can the notary charge the credible witness a fee for administering the oath? Not charge the signer that fee. Therefore, can a notary charge the credible witness a fee for administering an oath to the witness?

National Notary Association

10 Sep 2020

Hello. Please see the original question where the person asks if they should ask the signer to pay a fee.

Charlann Miller

11 Nov 2020

Can I charge a credible witness/subscribing witness fee in Georgia and if so what is that fee??

National Notary Association

13 Nov 2020

No. Using a credible identifying witness to identify a signer is not a notarial act you may charge a fee for. Essentially the witness only serves as a "human ID card" for the signer.

Cristina

26 Jan 2023

In Ca you can also charge a "mobile" fee or travel fee if you are a mobile notary.

National Notary Association

14 Feb 2023

According to the newsletter published by the CA Secretary of State's office, “A notary is permitted to charge a fee, aside from the notarization fee, for traveling and other services completed as part of their notarial service, such as duplication of copies, provided that the customer is apprised of these charges in advance”

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